Music and Technology: Algorithmic and Generative Music
MIT OpenCourseWare's exploration of algorithmic and generative music traces mechanical and computer-aided composition from historical devices to contemporary software systems. Lectures, readings, and listening assignments cover approaches such as chance operations, rule-based systems, and interactive generative processes, paired with hands-on projects built in Python, MIDI, Csound, SuperCellular, and Pure Data. Students analyze existing works, then design their own algorithmic pieces, testing how different tools shape musical output. The course sits at the intersection of composition theory and programming, treating code as a compositional tool rather than a technical afterthought. Materials include full syllabus, assignment sheets, and software examples, released under a Creative Commons license for self-paced study. No certificate is offered, but all course content is free to access and use.